Athletics 7, Mariners 1
Gio Gonzalez pitched seven strong innings and Mark Ellis had three RBIs as the Oakland Athletics cruised to a 7-1 victory over the visiting Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
Gonzalez (1-0) allowed one run and six hits as Oakland picked up its first win of the season.
Ellis plated Josh Willingham for the go-ahead run in the fourth inning on an infielder grounder. The same combo was at it again in the sixth when Willingham doubled and scored on Ellis’ two-out single to left.
Hideki Matsui had a run-scoring single in the seventh to give Oakland a 4-1 lead. The Athletics scored three more runs in the inning when Kurt Suzuki was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Ellis drew a bases-loaded walk and Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a sacrifice fly.
The Athletics’ first run scored in the third when Coco Crisp tripled in Kouzmanoff. Crisp had three of Oakland’s 10 hits.
Ryan Langerhans homered in the second inning for Seattle’s lone run.
Mariners starter Doug Fister (0-1) gave up three runs - two earned - and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.